Internal tensions continue to mount within Greece’s SYRIZA party, as senior figures Nikos Pappas and Pavlos Polakis have directly challenged the strategic proposal presented by party president Sokrates Famellos during the Political Secretariat meeting on Thursday, 25 June 2026. The dispute follows growing intra-party criticism over SYRIZA’s decision to support the newly formed progressive alliance ELAS—led by former SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras.
‘No Roadmap, No Way Forward’
According to reports, Pappas sharply criticized Famellos’ presentation, arguing that it failed to address fundamental questions raised since the Central Committee’s 6 June decision endorsing ELAS. ‘We heard nothing about a roadmap,’ he reportedly stated—a phrase that encapsulates broader concerns among dissenting members about the lack of clarity in the party’s direction.
Pappas also pointed to SYRIZA’s deteriorating polling numbers, suggesting leadership has not conducted the necessary political assessment. He described the prevailing sentiment—‘we’re walking in the right direction’—as deeply disappointing, stressing that current data demands a fundamentally different approach. For Pappas, the priority must be a coordinated, transparent path forward, grounded in collective decisions—not ‘personal negotiations.’
Polakis: ‘The Strategy Is a Dead End’
Pavlos Polakis, MP for Chania, echoed Pappas’ critique, labelling the current course ‘a dead end.’ He renewed calls for an immediate reconvening of the Central Committee, insisting that decisions shaping SYRIZA’s future must be revisited at the party’s highest decision-making body.
Famellos: ‘The Decision Is Historic and Binding’
In response, Famellos defended the 6 June Central Committee resolution as ‘historic, clear, and bold’—and insisted its implementation is now the sole focus. He framed SYRIZA’s support for ELAS not as a retreat but as a ‘social necessity’ and the strongest possible counter to those calling for the party’s dissolution.
Famellos reiterated his belief that open dialogue with ELAS represents the best path for progressive forces in Greece—arguing that confrontation and isolation would be a ‘strategic mistake.’ He issued a firm rebuke to internal critics, emphasizing democratic accountability: ‘It’s unthinkable to democratically decide something, only for some cadres to act as if they didn’t understand—or worse, present their minority views as official policy.’
He warned that repeatedly reopening the same debate in party forums does not strengthen SYRIZA, but instead fuels introspection and serves only the interests of the ruling government.